Enemies by Politics, Brothers by Culture: Can India and Pakistan Find Peace?

 

The geopolitical dynamics of India, Pakistan, and China form a complex triangle of conflict, competition and strategic maneuvering.  Since the partition of British India in 1947, India and Pakistan have been embroiled in a cycle of wars, skirmishes and diplomatic standoffs, with China increasingly looking to Pakistan as a strategic partner to counter India's ascent.  As tensions in the Indo-Pacific rise, there is an urgent need for long-term solutions that promote peace, stability and balanced power.

I. INDIA-PAKISTAN WARS AND MAJOR CONFLICTS:

India and Pakistan have fought four major wars, as well as countless border conflicts and terrorist attacks, most of which have occurred in J &K.  

1. The 1947-48 war began with tribal assaults from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir and ended with a UN truce and the creation of the Line of Control (LoC).  

2. 1965 War: Started by Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar in Kashmir; ended with the Tashkent Agreement, but did not resolve the central issue.  

3. The 1971 War resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh, a decisive Indian triumph and the greatest capitulation since WWII.  

4. 1999 Kargil War: Pakistani troops infiltrated Indian positions in Kargil; India recovered territory with Operation Vijay.

5. Modern Conflicts:-

a)Uri Attack (2016): The Uri incident prompted India to conduct surgical strikes on terrorist launchpads across the LoC.  

b)Pulwama assault (2019): A suicide explosion murdered 40 Indian soldiers.  India responded with the Balakot airstrike, which targeted a terrorist camp deep within Pakistan.  

c)Operation Sindoor(2025): A high-precision air strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan and near the LoC. It also exposed the vulnerabilities of Chinese defence equipment.

II: China's Strategic Use of Pakistan:

China and Pakistan have developed a close cooperation to fight India's regional and global power.  This China-Pakistan axis furthers Beijing's long-term goals.  

1. Economic and military support: China gains access to the Arabian Sea via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port, avoiding the dangerous Strait of Mallacca.  Beijing supplies Pakistan with guns, aircraft and surveillance technologies to reinforce its military.  

2. Terrorism Diplomacy: China routinely shields Pakistan from international sanctions (e.g., by vetoing UN terror lists), allowing for proxy war activities against India.

3. Indo-Pacific Balance: China's goal in keeping India involved in border and terror concerns is to diminish its involvement in regional groups such as QUAD. 

Gwadar Port and other developments are part of China's String of Pearls strategy, which aims to encircle India in the Indian Ocean. 

III. Sociocultural Similarities between India and Pakistan:

Despite hostilities, India and Pakistan have strong cultural, linguistic, and social ties; 

Languages: Hindi and Urdu have similar grammar and vocabulary.  Punjabi, Sindhi, and Kashmiri are spoken in both nations.  

Food and Culture: Common dishes (biryani and kebabs), clothing styles, music, and festivals such as Eid.  

Family Values: Both societies place an emphasis on joint families, arranged marriages, and communal customs.  

Entertainment: Bollywood films are popular in Pakistan, and Indian consumers appreciate Pakistani television and music.  

This common cultural heritage can serve as a bridge to conversation and reconciliation.

IV. Resolving Conflict and Balancing China:

To achieve long-term peace and a balanced strategic position in the area, India needs a multidimensional approach;

A. Restore India-Pakistan dialogue: Resume bilateral talks, with an emphasis on Kashmir, trade, water, and terrorism.  Encourage human-to-human interaction through tourism, sports, and cultural exchange.  

B. Strengthen Economic ties: Normalize trade, particularly in border regions.  Collaborate on non-sensitive issues such as health, climate change and energy security.  

C. Increase security and deterrence: Maintain a strong defensive posture along the borders with Pakistan and China.  To prevent conflict, use intelligence, cyber defense and fast response techniques.  

D. Balanced China Strategy: Continue to enhance border infrastructure while engaging diplomatically.  Cooperate with QUAD, ASEAN and Indian Ocean allies, but avoid direct military confrontations.  Regional connectivity projects can help counter China's Belt and Road Initiative.

E. Internal Strength and Unity: To avoid adversarial exploitation, promote social harmony and preserve minority rights.  Create border states and integrate underprivileged communities to increase national strength.

Conclusion:

To ensure a brighter future, Pakistan must prioritize critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic stability—progress that can only be achieved by abandoning terrorism. The growing China-Pakistan relationship is driving the region deeper into debt and instability, resembling a North-South Korea division with India, which is increasingly affected by Chinese interests. Instead of mutual enmity, India and Pakistan should prioritize the well-being of their people. Navigating this complicated geopolitical terrain would need India to exercise strategic patience, economic insight, cultural diplomacy and a balanced defensive posture. True leadership exists not in conflict, but in resolving shared hardships into shared progress and creating long-term regional peace.